OCHistory of Olympic College

History

Olympic College began as Olympic Junior College on September 5, 1946, under the authority of the Bremerton School District. It was the ninth junior college in the state of Washington. The college opened with 575 students—423 men and 152 women—including many World War II veterans. At that time, tuition was just $6 per credit hour. The name “Olympic” was chosen to reflect the college’s mission to serve the entire Olympic Peninsula.

In 1953, the college was renamed Olympic College and was accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. Today, Olympic College has campuses in Bremerton, Poulsbo, and Shelton. It offers bachelor’s degrees, apprenticeships, and university partnerships, while staying true to its original goal: providing accessible, high-quality education to the community.